Chicago Blackhawks (NHL '09)

[onlybygrace]

GAME 7!!!

[theaub]

June 13, 2010 Finally! Cup returns to Chicago after 49 years Toronto 2 Chicago 3

SCORING 1 2 3 OT F Toronto 1 1 0 0 2 Chicago 1 1 0 1 3 SHOTS ON GOAL 57 48 POWER PLAY 0-3 0-2

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago sporting legend Ernie Banks, longtime shortstop for the Cubs, had an old catchphrase: "Let's play two." The Chicago Blackhawks decided to invoke it en route to a Stanley Cup.

Jonathan Toews scored all three Blackhawk goals, including the winner at 9:08 of the third overtime period, as Chicago won their first championship since 1961, a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The jubilation of the victory for Blackhawk fans, who have not seen a Stanley Cup since 1961 is the polar opposite of the devestation felt by Leaf fans, who endured through almost six periods of intense playoff hockey only to come up short. For Toronto, who hasn't won since 1967, there will definitely be some changes, but likely for the better, as the young Leafs will add some pieces in an effort to return to the final.

For Chicago, who got three points from Toews and Patrick Kane, they will look to sign the aforementioned youngsters to long term deals this offseason when their entry level contracts expire. One has to figure they will have what is essentially a blank contract handed to them by ownership.

The Blackhawks did not lead for a single second of the game. Tim Stapleton opened up the scoring, beautifully deflecting in Tomas Kaberle's point shot. However, Toews quickly responded, one-timing a perfect pass from Kane into the top corner to tie the game back up.

Toronto re-took the lead in the second. Mark Bell made a brilliant move to get around Brent Seabrook, and beat a fallen Huet to give Toronto the lead again. This time, it took Chicago almost half a period, but Toews responded with his own highlight reel goal, a sick backhand move on Pavel Kubina that led to a wrist shot over the shoulder of Vesa Toskala.

The next 70 minutes featured great goaltending on both sides, and some bad luck. For the Leafs, it was Jiri Tlusty drilling the post in both the first and second overtimes, a couple of misses that will be sure to keep him up on certain summer nights. Coincidentally, it was Toews who hit the post for Chicago just before the end of the opening overtime frame. During the three overtime periods, Toronto outshot the Blackhawks 22-20.

The eventual cup winner started out as a harmless play. Bell came into the Hawk zone, and was checked off the puck by Duncan Keith, who made a quick outlet pass to Seabrook. The defenseman moved the puck to Kane, who came into the zone and passed off to Toews. From the top of the circles, the Chicago captain unleashed a wrist shot that beat Toskala above the blocker, and set off a jubilant celebration inside (and outside) the United Center, capped off by Toews receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy and lifting the Stanley Cup.

As for this dynasty, this is the end point, at least in terms of constant updates. I'd rather end it now then get 15 games into next year and stop. And as they say, its better to go out on top. I hope y'alls had fun reading...I'll be back with one of these when NHL '10 drops (and maybe with one for NCAA '10 too).

Game Summary
First Period
TOR: Tim Stapleton (Kaberle, Comrie), 13:43
Stapleton skillfully tips shot past Huet

CHI: Jonathan Toews (Kane, Campbell), 15:12
Toews wires wrister past Toskala's glove

Penalties: CHI Seabrook 0:51 (Slashing), CHI Sharp 11:32 (Cross Checking), TOR Schenn 18:43 (Tripping)

Second Period
TOR: Mark Bell (Schenn), 6:18
Bell gets pass, dekes out Seabrook and beats Huet to the far side

CHI: Jonathan Toews (Kane, Zetterberg), 15:49
Toews makes beautiful move to beat Kubina and then fires shot past Toskala

Penalties: TOR Kaberle 0:49 (Interference), CHI Toews 1:24 (Holding)

Third Period
No scoring

Penalties: None

First Overtime
No scoring

Penalties: None

Second Overtime
No scoring

Penalties: None

Third Overtime
CHI: Jonathan Toews (Kane, Seabrook), 9:08
Toews ends longest Cup drought in NHL

Penalties: None

Goalies
TOR: Vesa Toskala (.938%)
CHI: Cristobal Huet (.966%)

Three Stars
1. Jonathan Toews, CHI (3 G, 0 A)
2. Cristobal Huet, CHI (56 SV)
3. Patrick Kane, CHI (0 G, 3 A)

[theaub]

Chicago Blackhawks Playoff Stats

Jonathan Toews: 17 G, 13 A, 30 P, +8, 10 PIM
Patrick Kane: 13 G, 11 A, 24 P, -9, 8 PIM
Henrik Zetterberg: 13 G, 9 A, 22 P, -4, 10 PIM
Patrick Sharp: 11 G, 10 A, 21 P, +7, 6 PIM
Brent Seabrook: 1 G, 18 A, 19 P, +12, 22 PIM
Tim Connolly: 9 G, 7 A, 16 P, +5, 4 PIM

Keith Tkachuk: 4 G, 12 A, 16 P, -5, 22 PIM
Brian Campbell: 1 G, 14 A, 15 P, +1, 12 PIM
Duncan Keith: 0 G, 12 A, 12 P, +17, 20 PIM
Cam Barker: 2 G, 10 A, 12 P, +3, 29 PIM
Dave Bolland: 4 G, 6 A, 10 P, +10, 14 PIM
Kris Versteeg: 4 G, 6 A, 10 P, +1, 10 PIM

Andrew Ladd: 5 G, 3 A, 8 P, +11, 10 PIM
Nicklas Bergfors: 6 G, 2 A, 8 P, +3, 4 PIM
Matt Lashoff: 0 G, 7 A, 7 P, E, 12 PIM
Dustin Byfuglien: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, +2, 6 PIM
Jack Johnson: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +1, 24 PIM
Kyle Beach: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, +1, 8 PIM

Cristobal Huet: 15-12, 2.96 GAA, .910%
Brian Boucher: 1-0, 3.03 GAA, .911%

Awards
Stanley Cup: Chicago Blackhawks
Presidents Trophy: Chicago Blackhawks
Art Ross Trophy: Ilya Kovalchuk
Hart Trophy: Ryan Miller
Norris Trophy: Thomas Hickey
Lady Byng Trophy: Teemu Selanne
Calder Trophy: Al Montoya
Conn Smythe Trophy: Jonathan Toews
Vezina Trophy: Ryan Miller
William M. Jennings Trophy: Vancouver Canucks
Bill Masterton Trophy: Paul Kariya
Selke Trophy: Henrik Sedin
Lester B. Pearson Award: Ilya Kovalchuk
Maurice Richard Trophy: Teemu Selanne

[onlybygrace]

I didn't get into this until the very end as I'm somewhat new around here, but what a great chise man.

Congrats on the magnifacent series and I bet you were pumped to score that triple OT Stanley Cup game winner in game 7.

It doesn't get much better than that. Oh wait, yes it does...

if its a hat trick goal. Good lord.

[shinderhizzle84]

if you wanna hear something somewhat hilarious, Aub, my BAP's a goalie for the hawks, and he recently won the cup in triple overtime as well!!


congrats! We all knew you could do it, and we're oh so happy this epic dynasty ended it's magnificent legacy on such a high note.

Here's to many more from Thornhill's greatest dynasty-maker.

PS: I recently found out one of my aunts lives in thornhill, and i always thought it was TO. Kind of a small world, eh?